WNY Insider for February 4th

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Seth Greene

Feb 4, 2026

The News, Eats & Events Shaping Western New York

Buffalo's Need for Speed: Local Skaters Keep the Ice Alive

In central Buffalo, the Buffalo Speedskating Club keeps the city’s energy high with its love for speedskating.

Based at the North Buffalo Ice Rink on Tacoma Avenue, the club runs sessions every Tuesday and Sunday, inviting all levels, from first-timers to experienced athletes.

During practices, the rink transforms into a 360-foot short-track oval, matching world-class standards.

Coaches like Henry Withers celebrate the adrenaline rush and simplicity of the sport, while skaters such as Sage Krishna — a three-time national qualifier — describe the sensation as euphoric.

Members range widely in age, united by shared excitement, whether training for fun or aiming for major national events.

Buffalo’s rink has hosted many who later raced on Olympic teams, contributing to the city’s quiet but formidable legacy in speedskating.

An open house on February 19 allows newcomers to try the sport, with equipment available for use.

Local pride soars as Buffalo’s skaters chase their Olympic dreams on familiar ice.

Therese Forton-Barnes, named the 2025 Buffalo Bills Fan of the Year, is representing Bills Mafia at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, making the spirit of Buffalo’s fans visible on a national stage.

Although the Bills aren’t competing, Forton-Barnes’s commitment ensures their passionate community remains in the spotlight.

Through founding the Water Buffalo Club 716, she has strengthened ties among fans around the globe and emphasized giving back to Western New York.

Her celebrated hats, handmade by Stitch Buffalo artisans, have become a unifying symbol for supporters.

Forton-Barnes’s lifelong dedication to the Bills—stretching from the days at War Memorial Stadium to this Super Bowl moment—highlights her remarkable loyalty.

Her journey illustrates the pride and passion that define Buffalo’s fan base, inspiring others and keeping the Bills’ spirit alive far beyond the field.

Stream Data Centers has unveiled plans for a $6.3 billion data center in Genesee County, New York.

The vast 900,000-square-foot facility will rise at the STAMP campus in the town of Alabama, spanning a 59-acre site.

This project is poised to create 122 full-time jobs, with salaries ranging from $80,000 to $120,000, and will support numerous temporary construction roles.

The GCEDC forecasts $218.4 million in local revenues over the next 20 years, helping to fund infrastructure upgrades like improved water systems aimed at future economic growth.

Construction is set to start later this year, with Stream Data Centers emphasizing sustainability through low water usage, and minimal noise or light pollution.

This major investment positions Genesee County as a growing hub for advanced technology, with optimism that it will lure further high-tech development to the region.